Tea kettle with automatic opening cap

ABSTRACT

A tea kettle includes a body with a spout positioned on the body. A front bracket is positioned on the spout. A generally C-shaped handle has a trailing end that is pivotally connected to the body and a leading end featuring a pair of pin ends. A cap is pivotally attached to the front bracket and features a pair of elongated slots receiving the pair of pin ends of the leading end of the handle. The pin ends traverse the elongated slots as the handle of the kettle is lifted so that the cap pivots to an open configuration relative to the spout.

CLAIM OF PRIORITY

This application claims priority from U.S. Provisional PatentApplication Ser. No. 60/748,098, filed Dec. 7, 2005.

BACKGROUND

The present invention relates generally to tea kettles and, moreparticularly, to a tea kettle featuring a cap that opens automaticallywhen the tea kettle is lifted.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a top perspective view of an embodiment of the tea kettle ofthe present invention with the cap in the closed configuration;

FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the cap, a leading portion of the handleand related hardware of the tea kettle of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged bottom perspective view of the assembled capassembly of the tea kettle of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a top perspective view of-the tea kettle of FIG. 1 with thecap partially open; and

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the tea kettle of FIG. 1 with the cap inthe fully open configuration.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

An embodiment of the tea-kettle of the present invention is indicated ingeneral at 10 in FIG. 1. The kettle that features a body 12 that ishollow so as to define a chamber for receiving liquids. The top of thebody features an opening 14 which receives a lid 16. Lid 16 features aknob or handle 18 so that the lid may be removed and water, or someother liquid to be heated, may be poured into the interior chamber ofthe body. Body 12 is preferably constructed of steel coated withporcelain enamel which permits exposure of the body to a source of heat,such as the burner of a stove.

A pour spout 20 is attached to the kettle body and communicates with theinterior chamber of the kettle body as is known in the art. A fronthandle and cap bracket 24 is attached to the spout 20 and, as will beexplained in greater detail below, pivotally supports a cap 26. As willalso be explained in greater detail below, a generally C-shaped handle,indicated in general at 28 in FIG. 1, includes a leading end 32 that isconnected to cap assembly 26 and a trailing end 34 which is pivotallyattached to the kettle body 12 via rear handle bracket 36 and screws(not shown). The handle preferably is constructed from steel with agripping portion 38 formed of rubber, plastic or another heat-resistantmaterial. Front handle and cap bracket 24 and rear handle bracket 36 areboth preferably of metal and may be secured to the kettle body byadhesive or other fastening arrangements known in the art.

As illustrated in FIG. 2, the leading end of handle 28 features acylindrical portion 42 that features a bore 43 and is received between apair of wings 44 a and 44 b positioned on a middle portion 45 of thecap, indicated in general at 20. Wings 44 a and 44 b are provided withelongated slots 46 a and 46 b. After cylindrical portion 42 ispositioned between wings 44 a and 44 b, a pin 48 is positioned throughthe bore 43. The pin 48 features a length so that its ends 52 a and 52traverse elongated slots 46 a and 46 b.

The front handle and cap bracket; indicated in general at 24 in FIG. 2,features a pair of ears 54 a and 54 b that feature openings 56 a and 56b, respectively. A bridge portion 62 is positioned between the ears andfeatures a notch 64 having a screw hole 66. A leaf spring 68 having anupper end 72 is secured within the notch 64 via screw 74.

Cap 26, which is preferably constructed of metal, features a disk-shapedportion 76. On the end of middle portion 45 opposite disk-shaped portion76 is a cylindrical portion 82 featuring a threaded bore 84. Thecylindrical portion 82 is sized to fit between the ears 54 a and 54 b ofthe front handle and cap bracket 24 and is pivotally secured thereto byscrews 84 a and 84 b. As a result, cap 26 is pivotally connected tobracket 24 while the leading end of handle 28 is attached to cap 26 is apivoting and sliding fashion.

As illustrated in FIG. 3, the disk-shaped portion 76 of the cap servesas a housing for a whistle 86, as is known in the art. The whistle issecured with the cap by screw 88 and makes a pleasing sound when steamtravels through openings 92 and 94 (FIG. 2). Also illustrated in FIG. 3,cylindrical portion 82 features a flat portion 96, the function of whichwill be explained below.

The operation of the tea kettle of FIGS. 1-3 will now be explained. Whenthe kettle is sitting on a generally flat surface, such as on the burnerof a stove, with the cap in the closed configuration, as illustrated inFIG. 1, the ends 52 a and 52 b of pin 48 (FIG. 2) are positioned at thedistal ends 102 a and 102 b (FIG. 3) of elongated slots 46 a and 46 b.

When the kettle is lifted by the handle 28, as illustrated in FIG. 4,the handle pivots in a counter-clockwise direction around rear handlebracket 36, and thus axis 103, as indicated by arrow 105. Furthermore,the ends of the pin (48 in FIGS. 1 and 2) travel in elongated slots 46 aand 46 b in the direction of arrow 104. This motion continues until thecap reaches the position illustrated in FIG. 4. As the kettle is tiltedfor pouring, and the cap continues to pivot in the counter-clockwisedirection with respect to the rim of the spout 106, as indicated byarrow 108 in FIG. 4, the ends of the pin reverse direction in elongatedslots 46 a and 46 b and travel back to the distal ends 102 a and 102 b(FIG. 3) as the cap reaches the fully open position where it isapproximately 90 degrees with respect to the plane of spout rim 106.This cap position is illustrated in FIG. 5. As the cap reaches thisconfiguration, the flat portion 96 (FIG. 3) of the cylindrical portion82 of the cap is engaged by the upper end 72 (FIG. 2) of the leaf spring68. As a result, the cap is secured in the open configuration, asillustrated in FIG. 5, when the kettle is returned to a generally levelsurface. A gentle push down on handle 28 in the direction of arrow 110in FIG. 5 causes the cap to close to the configuration illustrated inFIG. 1.

While embodiments of the invention have been shown and described, itwill be apparent to those skilled in the art that changes andmodifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit ofthe invention.

1. A tea kettle comprising: a) a body; b) a spout positioned on thebody; c) a front bracket positioned on the spout; d) a generallyC-shaped handle having a trailing end pivotally connected to the bodyand a leading end featuring a pair of pin ends; e) a cap pivotallyattached to the front bracket and featuring a pair of elongated slotsreceiving the pair of pin ends of the leading end of the handle; and f)said pin ends traversing the elongated slots as the handle of the kettleis lifted so that the cap pivots to an open configuration relative tothe spout.
 2. The tea kettle of claim 1 wherein the cap features acylindrical portion having a flat portion and further comprising a leafspring attached to the front bracket, said leaf spring having an upperend that engages the flat portion when the cap is in the openconfiguration.
 3. The tea kettle of claim 2 wherein the front bracketincludes a pair of ears with the leaf spring positioned there betweenand the cylindrical portion of the cap fits between the pair of ears ina pivoting fashion.
 4. The tea kettle of claim 1 wherein the pair ofelongated slots each feature a distal end and the pin ends rest at thedistal ends when the cap is in the open configuration and a closedconfiguration relative to the spout.
 5. The tea kettle of claim 1wherein the cap houses a whistle.
 6. The tea kettle of claim 1 whereinthe handle includes a gripping portion constructed of heat-resistantmaterial.
 7. The tea kettle of claim 1 further comprising a rear bracketmounted on the kettle body and to which the trailing end of the handleis pivotally attached.
 8. The tea kettle of claim 1 wherein said leadingend of said handle includes a cylindrical portion with a bore and a pinpositioned in the bore so that the pair of pin ends protrude fromopposing sides thereof.
 9. The tea kettle of claim 1 wherein the spoutincludes a rim and the cap forms an angle of approximately 90 degreeswith the rim of the spout when the cap is in the open configuration. 10.A tea kettle comprising: a) a body; b) a spout positioned on the body;c) a front bracket positioned on the body; d) a generally C-shapedhandle having a trailing end pivotally connected to the body and aleading end featuring a pair of pin ends; e) a cap pivotally attached tothe front bracket and featuring a pair of elongated slots receiving thepair of pin ends of the leading end of the handle; and f) said pin endstraversing the elongated slots as the handle of the kettle is lifted sothat the cap pivots to an open configuration relative to the spout. 11.The tea kettle of claim 10 wherein the cap features a cylindricalportion having a flat portion and further comprising a leaf springattached to the front bracket, said leaf spring having an upper end thatengages the flat portion when the cap is in an open configuration. 12.The tea kettle of claim 11 wherein the front bracket includes a pair ofears with the leaf spring positioned there between and the cylindricalportion of the cap fits between the pair of ears in a pivoting fashion.13. The tea kettle of claim 10 wherein the pair of elongated slots eachfeature a distal end and the pin ends rest at the distal ends when thecap is in the open configuration and a closed configuration relative tothe spout.
 14. The tea kettle of claim 10 wherein the cap houses awhistle.
 15. The tea kettle of claim 10 wherein the handle includes agripping portion constructed of heat-resistant material.
 16. The teakettle of claim 10 further comprising a rear bracket mounted on thekettle body and to which the trailing end of the handle is pivotallyattached.
 17. The tea kettle of claim 10 wherein said leading end ofsaid handle includes a cylindrical portion with a bore and a pinpositioned in the bore so that the pair of pin ends protrude fromopposing sides thereof.
 18. The tea kettle of claim 10 wherein the spoutincludes a rim and the cap forms an angle of approximately 90 degreeswith the rim of the spout when the cap is in the open configuration.